Bubble-free connector for liquid carrying tubing

Abstract

A system and method for connecting a first fluid carrying tube and a second fluid carrying tube or tube fitting includes a first tube having a lumen therethrough and an open end, and a second tube or tube fitting having a lumen therethrough and an open end. The first tube and second tube (or tube fitting) are connected by connecting means, including a bubble elimination chamber, in a first position, wherein the lumen of the tube, the lumen of the connecting means and the lumen of the tube fitting form a fluid-tight circuit and the bubble elimination chamber is open to the circuit, to permit elimination of any bubbles in the fluid circuit to the bubble elimination chamber. The first tube, connecting means and second tube (or tube fitting) then are connected in a second position, wherein a continuous, fluid-tight, bubble-free fluid circuit is formed, and the bubble elimination chamber is closed to the fluid circuit. The connecting means may include a soft connector alone or in combination with a connector tube.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A connector system for a liquid carrying circuit, the system comprising: a tube having a lumen therethrough and an open end;   a tube fitting having a lumen therethrough and an open end; and   connector means, including a generally tubular soft connector having an axis and lumen therethrough from a first connecting port to a second connecting port, and a bubble elimination chamber formed by a wall of said connector means proximate to and axially displaced from the second connecting port and in fluid communication with the lumen of said connector means, for connecting said tube and said tube fitting in a first position, with the open end of the tube fitting and the first connecting port forming a fluid-tight connection, the lumen of said tube, the lumen of said soft connector, and the lumen of said tube fitting forming a continuous fluid circuit and the bubble elimination port being open to the fluid circuit, and for connecting said tube and tube fitting in a second position, the lumen of said tube and the lumen of said tube fitting forming a continuous, fluid-tight circuit and the bubble elimination port being closed to the circuit by the tube fitting.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein said soft connector comprises a sleeve portion, and wherein said bubble elimination chamber is arranged coaxially with said sleeve portion. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2, wherein said bubble elimination chamber is generally heart-shaped in longitudinal cross-section. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 3, wherein a tapered portion of the heart-shaped bubble elimination chamber is truncated to form said second connecting port. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second connecting ports comprises an annular lip for facilitating manual manipulation of said connector means. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of said first and second connecting ports comprises an annular lip. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 2, wherein said bubble elimination chamber has a volume in a range of about 0.5 to 4 cc. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 2, wherein said bubble elimination chamber has a volume in a range of about 1 to 2 cc. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 1, wherein said tube fitting comprises at least one annular ridge proximate the open end of said tube fitting. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9, wherein said tube fitting comprises three annular ridges proximate the open end of said tube fitting. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first connecting port has a first diameter, the second connecting port has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and the soft connector has a tapered portion located between the first connecting port and the second connecting port. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11, wherein the bubble elimination chamber is located on the tapered portion of said soft connector. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 12, wherein the bubble elimination chamber has an opening in fluid communication with the lumen of the soft connector, the opening having a length substantially equal to an axial length of the tapered portion and a width substantially equal to a diameter of the soft connector at a midpoint of the axial length of the tapered portion. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 1, wherein the bubble elimination chamber has a generally conical configuration. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 11, wherein the bubble elimination chamber has a generally conical configuration. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 12, wherein the bubble elimination chamber has a generally conical configuration. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 13, wherein the bubble elimination chamber has a generally conical configuration. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 14, wherein the bubble elimination chamber has a volume in the range of about 0.5 to 4 cc. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 14, wherein the bubble elimination chamber has a volume in the range of about 1 to 2 cc. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second tube having a lumen therethrough and an open end, and wherein said tube fitting is a connector tube having a second open end in fluid communication with the lumen of the connector tube, for connecting to said second tube, to form an extension thereof. 
     
     
       21. The system of claim 20, wherein said second tube is a flexible tube and said connector tube is sized for insertion into the open end of said second tube for forming a fluid-tight annular seal with said second tube. 
     
     
       22. The system of claim 21, wherein the second open end of said connector tube comprises at least one annular barb. 
     
     
       23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second open end of said connector tube comprises three annular barbs. 
     
     
       24. A method for connecting a liquid carrying circuit, the circuit including a first tube having a lumen therethrough and an open end, a tube fitting having a lumen therethrough and an open end, and a soft connector having a lumen therethrough from a first connecting port to a second connecting port and a bubble elimination chamber in fluid communication with the lumen thereof, the method comprising the steps of: connecting the open end of the first tube to the first connecting port of the soft connector to form a fluid-tight connection therebetween, thereby to form a first tube assembly;   priming each of the first tube assembly and the tube fitting with priming fluid;   connecting the first assembly and tube fitting in a first position, to form a fluid-tight connection between the open end of the tube fitting and the second connecting port, and to form a continuous fluid circuit including the lumen of the first tube, the lumen of the soft connector and the lumen of the tube fitting, the bubble elimination chamber being open to the fluid circuit; and   connecting the first tube assembly and the tube fitting in a second position, to form a continuous, fluid-tight circuit including the lumen of the first tube and the lumen of the tube fitting, the bubble elimination chamber being closed to the fluid-tight circuit by the tube fitting.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of eliminating any bubbles in the fluid circuit by moving the bubbles from the fluid circuit to the bubble elimination chamber after the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the tube fitting in the first position and prior to the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the tube fitting in the second position. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of pinching the bubble elimination chamber during the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the tube fitting in a first position, to provide a flow of prime fluid to a point of connection between the second connecting port and the open end of the tube fitting, thereby to reduce formation of any bubbles in the fluid circuit at the point of connection. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of releasing the pinched bubble elimination chamber after the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the tube fitting in the first position, to facilitate removal of any bubbles in the fluid-circuit by vacuum. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of removing the soft connector from the liquid carrying circuit after the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the tube fitting in the second position. 
     
     
       29. A method for connecting a liquid carrying circuit, the circuit including a first tube having a lumen therethrough and an open end, a soft connector having a lumen therethrough from a first connecting port to a second connecting port and a bubble elimination chamber in a fluid communication with the lumen thereof, a connector tube having a lumen therethrough from a first open end to a second open end, and a second tube having a lumen therethrough and an open end, the method comprising the steps of: connecting the open end of the first tube to the first connecting port of the soft connector, to form a fluid-tight connection therebetween, thereby to form a first tube assembly;   connecting the open end of the second tube to the first open end of the connector tube, to form a fluid-tight connection therebetween, thereby to form a second tube assembly;   priming each of the first and second tube assemblies with a priming fluid;   connecting the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly in a full position, to form a fluid-tight connection between the second open end of the connector tube and the second connecting port of the soft connector, and to form a continuous fluid circuit including the lumen of the first tube, the lumen of the soft connector, the lumen of the connector tube and the lumen of the second tube, the bubble elimination chamber being open to the fluid circuit; and   connecting the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly in a second position, to form a continuous fluid-tight circuit including the lumen of the first tube, the lumen of the connector tube and the lumen of the second tube, the bubble elimination chamber being closed to the fluid-tight circuit by the connector tube.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of eliminating any bubbles in the fluid circuit by moving the bubbles from the fluid circuit to the bubble elimination chamber after the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly fitting in the first position and prior to the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly in the second position. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of pinching the bubble elimination chamber during the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly in a first position, to provide a flow of prime fluid to a point of connection between the second connecting port and the second open end of the connector tube, to reduce formation of any bubbles in the fluid circuit at the point of connection. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of releasing the pinched bubble elimination chamber after the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly in the first position, to facilitate removal of any bubbles in the fluid-circuit by vacuum. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of removing the soft connector from the liquid carrying circuit after the step of connecting the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly in the second position.